Wheaton College Massachusetts

24 Hour Play Festival
2025-09-21 19:00 (America/New_York) | Kresge Experimental Theatre, Watson Fine Arts
Kresge Theatre Company presents 24 Hour Play Festival. Groups of students will write, rehearse, and perform a play in just 24 hours.
Tickets are free and can be reserved via the Box Office.

CTRL+Delete
2025-09-23 13:00 - 17:00, 2025-09-25 13:00 - 20:00, 2025-09-27 13:00 - 17:00, 2025-09-30 13:00 - 17:00, 2025-10-02 13:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-04 13:00 - 17:00, 2025-10-07 13:00 - 17:00, 2025-10-09 13:00 - 20:00 and 8 more dates | Watson Fine Arts – Beard and Weil Galleries, Norton, MA, 02766, United States
Ctrl+Delete explores the persistent threat of censorship in the United States, from historical book bans used to control knowledge and suppress marginalized voices to today’s escalating restrictions—including the removal of books and art from public spaces as well as the June Supreme Court decision (Mahmoud v. Taylor) requiring schools to provide opportunities to opt out of listening learning about books that include LGBTQ+ characters. By tracing these acts of erasure across time, the show reveals how censorship has shaped, and continues to shape, what stories are told and who gets to tell them.
Alongside overt bans and challenges, the exhibition also addresses the quieter but equally insidious forces of self-censorship within art and educational institutions, where fear of controversy, loss of funding, or political pressure can limit which narratives are made visible. Central to the exhibition is the Ultra Violet Archive, an interactive library which resists silencing by preserving cultural memory and amplifying suppressed voices. Projects like the Minecraft Uncensored Library—a digital platform where banned texts are freely accessible—demonstrate how artists, activists, and technologists are developing inventive strategies to fight suppression.
As part of the exhibition, we will hold a community reading of Frederick Douglass’s work during National Banned Books Week in October. The exhibition also features a dedicated space where visitors can share their own experiences with censorship creating an archive that underscores the ongoing relevance of these struggles. Opportunities to engage will create a space for shared reflection, underscoring the enduring power of words to inspire freedom, dialogue, and change.
Gallery Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Thursdays 1:00 p.m.—8:00 p.m.
Please note: the galleries will be closed November 26–December 1 for November break.
Beard and Weil Galleries

Phi Beta Kappa Scholar Dr. Shannon Jackson presents The Arts, Democracy, and Public Life
2025-09-23 17:00 - 19:00 | Watson Fine Arts – Weber Theatre, Norton, MA, 02766, United States
How do the arts activate public life? What is the role of the arts in sustaining democracy? In different eras and regions of the world, citizens have responded to these questions quite differently. As we mark the 250th anniversary of both the Phi Beta Kappa Society and of the United States of America, these questions have never been more resonant. The arts are key to advancing the rights of free assembly and of free expression. The arts contribute to social movements and to the formation of civic identity. This lecture alights upon a range of socially engaged art practices, investigating how the arts both shape and challenge our sense of community. Considering historic examples as well as those from our present moment—including ideas from Wheaton College students— we will explore how public art can open us to new ideas of what democracy might mean.
Through the Phi Beta Kappa Society’s Visiting Scholar Program, Dr. Jackson, Professor of the Arts & Humanities and Department Chair of History of Art at UC Berkeley, will visit Wheaton for two days.

Wheaton in Chicago
2025-10-01 12:00 - 14:00 | Onwentsia Club, 300 N Green Bay Road, Lake Forest, IL, 60045, United States
Join fellow alumni, friends and President Michaele Whelan for a special luncheon at the Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest. Enjoy a complimentary lunch buffet as we celebrate your Wheaton connection and hear about the college’s strategic priorities for the future.
The luncheon is generously hosted by Sara TenBroek ’84 and Mindy Mooney ’77. Please register by Wednesday, September 24th.
Register

Family and Friends Weekend 2025
2025-10-03 - 2025-10-04 | All Campus, 26 E. Main St., Norton, MA, 02766, United States
We’re looking forward to celebrating Family and Friends Weekend in conjunction with Wheaton’s Alumni Fall Fest on October 3-4, 2025.
These two events will be combined to provide our alumni, students, families, and friends with an all-encompassing weekend of Wheaton activity and connection.
View the Schedule
We hope you are able to join us!

Arts Quad Party
2025-10-03 16:00 - 18:00 | Hood Courtyard, 26 E. Main Street (between Watson & Mars Arts), Norton, MA, 02766, United States
Join us to kick-off Family & Friends Weekend arts@wheaton style! Enjoy performances by our student music, dance and theatre groups and a variety of free activities. Make-your-own Chia Pet jar; choose a bandana, zippered pouch or bucket hat to tie-dye; get an airbrush tattoo; try your hand at the Innovation Spaces drone obstacle course; or help us make press cider with apples from President Whelan’s orchard.

Fall Open House
2025-10-04 08:00 - 14:30 | All Campus, 26 E. Main St., Norton, MA, 02766, United States
Discover the possibilities at Wheaton College in Massachusetts. Join us at Open House for an inside look at life on campus:

Choose from faculty-led sessions focusing on an area of academic interest
Tour areas of campus related to the fields you’re interested in, from interdisciplinary makerspaces and arts facilities to science and nursing labs
Attend a student life discussion with college administrators—covering residential life, student activities and leadership
Meet Wheaton faculty and students
Learn more about admission and financial aid and connect with a counselor
Explore internship, research, experiential learning and study abroad opportunities
Enjoy lunch at the award-winning Chase Commons

Register for Open House

Open House Schedule

October 4, 2025

On this page:

8:00–8:25 a.m. Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30–8:50 a.m. Welcome Address
8:50–9:20 a.m. Compass Curriculum
9:30–10:20 a.m. Academic Presentation Breakout Sessions
10:30–11:20 a.m. The Wheaton Experience Breakout Sessions
11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Complimentary Lunch and Campus Tours

To locate the buildings you want to visit, find the corresponding numbers on the Wheaton Campus Map.
See Around the Dimple and On the Field for more on-campus activities to experience during your visit to Wheaton.

Guest access to Wi-Fi: WheatonGuest
Simply select WheatonGuest from the available Wi-Fi networks on your device. After connecting, you will be directed to our Guest Captive Portal Page to review and accept our Terms of Use. Upon login, you will be redirected to the Wheaton College website and connected to the internet.

Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:00–8:25 a.m.
Watson Fine Arts Center (26)

Welcome Address
8:30–8:50 a.m.
Jeff Cutting, Associate Vice President for Enrollment
Jonathan Millen, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Watson Fine Arts, Weber Theatre (26)

Compass Curriculum
8:50–9:20 a.m.
Discover the Compass Curriculum—a transformative approach that empowers you to carve your own path to success through personalized advising, integrated experiences and professional mentorship. In this session, a faculty presenter will walk you through the innovative structure of Wheaton’s curriculum, while current students share their own experiences navigating Compass and shaping meaningful academic and career paths.

Justin Schupp, Associate Professor of Sociology, Coordinator of Environmental Studies Minor and Coordinator of the Compass Curriculum

Watson Fine Arts, Weber Theatre (26)

Academic Presentation Breakout Sessions
9:30–10:20 a.m.
Get a comprehensive overview of our academic programs from the faculty who designed the curriculum. Are you undecided on a major? Feel free to select the session that piques your interest or attend an interactive session with student panelists to hear how they discovered their major at Wheaton.
Choose from the following:
Biological, Chemical, and Environmental Sciences
Faculty and current students will showcase the array of exciting courses and research opportunities available in biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, chemistry, and environmental science at Wheaton. Students with a strong interest in environmental studies can also explore our accelerated 4+1 M.S. in Environmental Science, which provides a clear pathway to advanced training and career preparation.

Laura Ekstrom, Professor of Biology
Christopher Kalberg, Associate Professor of Chemistry

Diana Davis Spencer Discovery Center, Hindle Auditorium (23)
Business
Wheaton’s innovative business department offers students a variety of options with our current three majors or minors in business and management, finance or marketing. Each establishes a strong foundation of knowledge and skills while allowing students to specialize in areas of interest to them. We also now offer a 4+1 M.S. in Business and are establishing pathways for other advanced degrees in specialized business areas. New majors and minors are on the horizon as we adapt to the demands of today’s global workforce.

C.C. Chapman, Senior Professor of the Practice of Business and Management
Kellie Mackisey, Visiting Assistant Professor of Business

Diana Davis Discovery Center, Room 3328 (23)
Creative Arts
Learn more about our programs in Creative Writing, Dance, Design, Digital Media and Communication, Film and New Media Studies, Music, Theatre, and Visual Art. You will have a chance to meet with faculty and staff to learn more about opportunities offered by these programs. Students interested in advancing their creative careers can also explore our 4+1 M.A. in Creative Industries, an accelerated graduate program designed to deepen professional and creative skill sets.

Kelly Goff, Professor of Art and Chair of the Creative Arts Department
Patrick Johnson, Chair and Associate Professor of Film, Media and Communication
Max Ponticelli, Professor of Practice of Technical Theatre
Tania Schlatter, Professor of the Practice and Design Program Lead
Julie Searles, Senior Professor of the Practice of Music
Kent Shaw, Associate Professor of English, Coordinator of Creative Writing

Watson Fine Arts, Weber Theatre (26)
Education
Whether you are pursuing Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education or Secondary Education, Wheaton provides small classes and a supportive environment for students ready to join this meaningful profession. In this session, you will hear from education department faculty and students about the rewards of teaching, experiential learning opportunities and the process for obtaining licensure.

Sara Donaldson, Chair and Associate Professor of Education

Diana Davis Discovery Center, Room 3344 (23)
Exploring your Academic Options
Having an open mind is important as you consider your academic options. In fact, it can be advantageous to enter college without having decided upon a major. At Wheaton College, we encourage exploration to find out what interests and passions really drive you. Join a panel of Wheaton students who were once in your shoes and hear how they navigated the process of choosing a major.

Jonathan Millen, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Mary Lyon Hall, Woolley Room (14)
Integrated Social Sciences
Delve into the dynamic world of the social sciences at Wheaton College, where students investigate the forces that shape individuals, communities and global systems. This session introduces the breadth and depth of programs such as psychology, neuroscience, criminal justice, international relations, political science, sociology, and public health. Faculty and students will share how interdisciplinary research, experiential learning and real-world engagement prepare graduates to think critically, communicate effectively and solve complex problems—equipping them for careers in advocacy, public policy, mental health, law, global service and more.

Matthew Gingo, Chair and Associate Professor of Psychology
J Sterphone, Visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology, Society and Politics Department
Aubrey Westfall, Professor of Political Science, Chair Society and Politics Department

Mary Lyon Hall, Holman Room (14)
Think, Create, Communicate: The Humanities Advantage
Discover how studying the humanities at Wheaton equips students with the skills and knowledge to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Through a conversation with some of Wheaton’s faculty, you’ll gain insight into the real-world applications of humanities: from problem solving and team building to communication, critical analysis and navigating complexity in a global world.
During the Q&A, prospective students and their families will have the opportunity to speak with the faculty and current students in the Humanities.

Charlotte Meehan, Professor of English, Playwright-in-Residence
Montserrat Perez-Toribio, Associate Professor of Hispanic Studies
Joel Relihan, Professor of Greek, Latin, and Ancient Mediterranean Studies
John Partridge, Professor of Philosophy

Diana Davis Spencer Discovery Center, Room 3346 (23)
Nursing
Our Nursing program is designed to prepare students for clinical practice as nurses at the intersection of community health and social justice. Faculty will highlight the unique advantages of Wheaton’s program and provide a glimpse into our state-of-the-art simulation center and labs.

Alyssa Rodrigues, Clinical Placement Manager for Nursing

Diana Davis Spencer Discovery Center, Room 3327 (23)
Physics, Math and Computer Science
Explore our programs in physics, astronomy and geology, engineering, mathematics, and computer science. Faculty will discuss the many rich opportunities to get involved in research both on and off campus.

Martin Gagne, Assistant Professor of Computer Science

Diana Davis Spencer Discovery Center, Room 1349 (23)

The Wheaton Experience Breakout Sessions
10:30–11:20 a.m.
These sessions are designed to showcase the myriad of resources, support networks and opportunities available to help you personalize your Wheaton experience and ensure you are set up for success both in and outside of the classroom.
Choose from the following:
Admission and Student Financial Aid Information Session
Wanda Suriel, Director of Admission, and Carla Minchello, Director of Financial Aid will be available to answer any questions regarding the admission and financial aid application processes.
Mary Lyon Hall, Holman Room (14)
Campus Leadership, Involvement, Belonging and Wellness
We believe that learning and growing extend beyond the classroom. The door is always open for you to become an important part of a community that supports individual expression and collective responsibility. An interactive panel of students and administrators will highlight the many opportunities for student leadership and involvement on campus.

Lyndsey Aguilar, Associate Director of Residential Life
Madison Flowers, Assistant Director of Athletics for Recreation and Varsity
Kate Puopolo, Associate Dean for Health and Wellness and Director of Counseling
Raquel Ramos, Dean of the Marshall Center

Watson Fine Arts, Weber Theatre (26)
Experiential Learning at Wheaton College
Wheaton is dedicated to facilitating experiences that broaden students’ perspectives and support their development. Join us to learn more about our Center for Global Education and our brand new Life and Career Design Institute—a holistic approach to life and career navigation. You’ll hear about a range of experiential learning, from internships to research to study abroad, as well as Wheaton’s commitment to providing every student the opportunity for funded experiential learning.

Sean Schofield, Assistant Vice President for Life and Career Design
Luis F. Paredes, Associate Vice President for Inclusive Excellence and Community Engagement

Diana Davis Spencer Discovery Center, Hindle Auditorium (23)

Complimentary Lunch and Campus Tours
Enjoy lunch

11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Choose a time to dine that works best for you and enjoy a complimentary lunch in our award-winning dining hall. Meal tickets will be provided at the dining hall entrance.
Chase Commons (27)
Tours* of the Mars Center for Science and Technology, Nursing Simulation Labs and Wheaton’s Innovation Spaces (includes a general campus tour)

11:30 a.m.
Get to know the spaces that house our STEM and Nursing programs through interactive tours of the Mars Center for Science and Technology and our clinical simulation center—an important part of nursing education. See where students practice skills safely and learn new procedures, explore student research labs and view Wheaton’s innovative, creative makerspace as you learn about ways that students can utilize the resources of Wheaton’s state-of-the-art facilities.
Departing from the Office of Admission (1)
Tours* of Visual and Performing Arts Facilities (includes a general campus tour)
Join us on a tour of the visual and performing arts facilities on campus. See the spaces where Wheaton students perform and create. Discover the many ways in which our Theatre, Music, Visual Art, Design, Film and New Media, Studio Art and Art History departments are connected.
Departing from the Office of Admission (1)
Campus Tours*
11:30 a.m.–1:15 p.m.
Explore a residence hall as well as academic spaces and athletics facilities. Plus, learn more about the Wheaton student experience. Student-led tours will depart on a rolling basis between 11:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.
Departing from the steps of the Office of Admission (1) from 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m. and in front of Chase Commons (27) from 12:30—1:15 p.m.
Departing in front of Chase Dining Hall (27) at 12:30 p.m.
*All tours conclude at the Office of Admission where admission counselors will be available to answer any questions regarding the admission and financial aid application process.

Ask Questions
The Office of Admission is open all day. Stop by to say hello or ask a question. Look for the bright blue “Ask Me” buttons for assistance.

Around the Dimple and On the Field
Unity Project
This evolving installation invites community members to visually express their identities and intersections using yarn. Beginning at a shared central pole, participants loop yarn around labeled poles representing various identity markers. The result is a colorful web of connection, difference and solidarity. Participants can also add new “labels” on a chalkboard to reflect identities not yet named. #WheatonMAunity #WeLiveBig
The Dimple, near Wallace Library (25)
Go Shopping at the Campus Bookstore
Start building your Wheaton wardrobe. Follow the instructions below to receive a coupon for 20% off one apparel or gift item. (See store for details. Restrictions apply.) The bookstore will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Follow these easy steps:

Visit CampusWelcome.com
Enter your email address
Enter access code: [REDACTED]
Show your coupon email at the register or use it online at the wheatoncollegeshop.com for your discount.

Balfour-Hood Campus Center, Campus Bookstore (19)
Athletics

12:00 p.m. – Women’s Volleyball vs. Smith College, Hass Athletic Center, Emerson Gymnasium
1:00 p.m. – Women’s Soccer vs. Mount Holyoke College, Christina Mirrione ’99 Stadium
2:00 p.m. – Men’s Soccer vs. Emerson College, Keefe Field

Fall Fest
12:00–3:30 p.m.
Join Wheaton Alumni, students and parents at Fall Fest!
CTRL+Delete
1:00–5:00 p.m.
Ctrl+Delete explores the persistent threat of censorship in the United States, from historical book bans used to control knowledge and suppress marginalized voices to today’s escalating restrictions–including the removal of books and art from public spaces as well as the June Supreme Court decision (Mahmoud v. Taylor) requiring schools to provide opportunities to opt out of learning about books that include LGBTQ+ characters. By tracing these acts of erasure across time, the show reveals how censorship has shaped, and continues to shape, what stories are told and who gets to tell them.
Watson Fine Arts, Beard and Weil Galleries (26)

Fall Fest 2025
2025-10-04 12:00 - 14:30 | The Dimple, Norton, MA, 02766, United States
Join alumni, students, family and friends at Fall Fest on Saturday, October 4, 2025 from 12:00-2:30 p.m.
Check-in will be in the Dimple.
There will be food, activities for kids, athletic events and alumni games to attend on campus throughout the day.
Learn More

5 Minute Play Festival
2025-10-04 19:30 - 21:00 | Kresge Experimental Theatre, Watson Fine Arts
Original fine-minute plays—written, directed, and performed by Wheaton students—are showcased in our biannual festival.

Reading Frederick Douglass Together at Wheaton
2025-10-09 17:00 - 19:00 | Watson Fine Arts – Beard and Weil Galleries, Norton, MA, 02766, United States
Come for a community reading of Frederick Douglass’s “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” A gifted orator and prescient writer, the life and works of Frederick Douglass continue to shape our understanding of America and force us to reckon with the legacy of slavery. Gather with your friends and neighbors, and read the speech out loud from start to finish. Learn about the power of gathering your community to reflect on historical texts and create opportunities to bridge the past and present.
This event is sponsored by a special grant from the Mass Humanities, Mass Cultural Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Free and open to all. Come to read or to listen. Discussion, giveaways and food!

Wheaton in Miami
2025-10-09 18:00 - 20:00 | Malloy Residence, Miami, Florida, United States
You’re invited to an evening of connection and conversation on Thursday, October 9. Gather with alumni and Wheaton parents for a discussion with Wheaton College President Michaele Whelan and enjoy the chance to mingle in a welcoming setting.
This gathering is kindly being hosted by John and Kendra Malloy P’22. The address will be provided after registering.
Register

MAP Day Fall 2025
2025-10-16 | Wheaton College, 26 E Main Street, Norton, MA, 02766, United States
This is a day for exploration, reflection, and planning. It is a celebration of learning in its broader sense. In place of regular classes, participate in special activities designed to reflect on where you are in your educational journey and the steps you need to take to make it where you want to go.
MAP Day happenings include workshops for students at every stage of their college career and advising sessions for each academic program area, as well as sessions on topics such as study abroad, life and career planning, honors and scholars programs, and financial planning. There will be a major fair and a graduate school fair, as well as other career-related programming. (The full schedule of activities will be available soon.)
The day’s events also include an academic session in which faculty engage in an interdisciplinary conversation to discuss the topic of “Abundance and reciprocity” from their disciplinary perspectives. The theme was inspired by the first-year students’ common reading selection, The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World, by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
Answering your reflective MAP Questions is required for graduation and you can complete them during MAP Day. Please talk with your advisor if you have questions.

Wheaton in Washington
2025-10-22 18:00 - 20:00 | Reed Alumni Residence, 3604 O Street NW, Washington, DC, 20057, United States
Alumni and parents are invited to the Reed Alumni Residence at Georgetown University for a conversation with President Michaele Whelan and Provost Jonathan Millen on the state of higher education. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served as the discussion explores national trends in higher education and Wheaton’s place within this evolving landscape.
Please register by Wednesday, October 15th.
Register

Fall Preview Day
2025-10-25 08:30 - 12:00 | All Campus, 26 E. Main St., Norton, MA, 02766, United States
Preview Days are designed to provide a general overview of the opportunities available at Wheaton College—everything from academics to life on campus. The program includes a look into the Wheaton Curriculum, an interactive student panel, admission and financial aid information, as well as a campus tour. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the program will conclude following your campus tour at approximately 11:45 a.m., at which time Admission Counselors will be available to answer any questions you may have.
Register to attend Saturday, October 25, 2025

Children of the Stone: The Power of Music
2025-10-28 17:00 | Watson Fine Arts – Ellison Lecture Hall, Norton, MA, 02766
Musician, composer, and creator & musical director the ensemble Dal’Ouna, Ramzi Aburedwan presents a talk on his unlikely upbringing as a young musician with an insatiable dream: to bring people together, across cultures and world views, through music. Ramzi’s talk will be followed by a performance by Dal’Ouna at 7:30 p.m. in the Kresge Experimental Theatre.
